Finding Body Confidence with Your Wardrobe

How many times have you tried on clothes from a clothing store, only to discover your body doesn’t conform to their perception of size M? Or how many times have you scrolled through your Instagram feed, wishing you had the figure like those girls advertising those teatox products or yoga workout DVDs? From the clothes that are mass produced to the models featured in their advertisements, it’s hard for women to ignore these skewed ideas of beauty and have a healthy image of the self.

Brands are undeniably powerful in getting their audiences to believe what is beautiful and what is not. For example, a substantial proportion of Asian populations aspire to have lighter skin, despite some cultural difference across the continent, as outlined by Refinery 29. Thus, skincare brands are often targeted to lighten darker complexions. And with all the celebrity endorsed fat burning pills, we’re tricked to believing that you’re too fat to be considered beautiful. It’s a harsh world we’re living in.

But whatever ads come our way, we all need to learn to love and appreciate what we see in the mirror, and one of the simplest ways of achieving a positive body image is by our wardrobe choices. As Jill L. Ferguson shares with HuffPost, your clothes can reflect your mood and your confidence.

It all starts with finding the right fit.

The journey to finding the perfect fit is not one without its obstacles. Even with knowing their body type, women still have issues finding the right size in store. And with unflattering features of fitting rooms, insecurities flood their thoughts and then they end up disliking the entire experience all together.

Thankfully, the accessibility of online shopping has helped girls and women find their personal dressing rooms in the comfort of their own homes, minus the seemingly fattening mirrors and the harsh lighting. As fashion e-stores like Pretty Me Philippines offer free deliveries and a standard 7-day return policy, ladies no longer have to face the embarrassment of having to ask the salesperson for a larger size. Plus, it forces them to truly understand their shape and measurements to avoid the hassle of exchanges, ultimately helping them become more in tune with their own body. And with knowing such measurements, the in store shopping experience is no longer a dreaded one.

There’s this sense of empowerment when you come into terms with what fits your body and your personal style. You accept and embrace your “flaws,” projecting that oomph that we all yearn for when we step out of the house in our chosen outfits. You stop obsessing over what you don’t have and start loving every bit of what you do have. You get rid of clothes that you were keeping for when you lose a few kilos, which is a huge step in body acceptance as Heart Your Body explains you are no longer subconsciously telling yourself you aren’t good enough. You start shopping for clothes that do your body justice rather than hiding behind dark, baggy items. And finally, you realize that no matter how big or small you are, what the labels indicate on your clothes are just numbers. Your beauty isn’t bound by your shape or size.